Culture
What is culture?
Culture
Culture – material and non material ways
of life that are transmitted from one
generation to the next.
Culture is learned.
Learned behaviors are not genetically
inherited.
Elements of Culture
Universals
Variables
Subcultures
Values
Attitudes
Language
Dialect
Stereotypes
Gratification
Status
Class
Culture
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Culture Universals – commonalities
found in all cultures
Material – Food, Clothing, Shelter
Arts and Leisure
Views of the Unknown – death, magic,
religion
Communication – expression, gestures
Family/Kinship
Culture
6. Institutions – economic, educational
7. Gender/Sex – double standard, adultery
tolerated, incest taboo
Culture
Cultural Variables – differences among
cultures
Subculture – group within a culture that
has common characteristics that set them
apart.
Comparison
The best way to understand culture is to
compare the culture of another country to
our culture. The following twelve
“instances” relate to typical American
reactions in different situations followed by
differences in perceptions of other
cultures:
Eating and/or presenting gifts with left hand
(In many parts of the world, especially in the
Middle East, the left hand is considered
“unclean,” as it is also used with the water to
clean yourself after defecating [no toilet paper].)
Not eating “ripe” duck eggs, but drinking
cow’s milk.
(Some Chinese and Phillipinos consider a
near-petrified egg as a delicacy, but the thought
of drinking a glass of milk may fill some Chinese
with horror. Do you like fried grasshoppers?)
Not visiting their close relatives very
often, especially grandparents, even if
they only live ¼ mile up the road.
(This type of activity may be interpreted by
people in some cultures as evidence that
you do not honor and respect the older
people in your family or the other
members of your family, thus, you are a
selfish, conceited person who uses other
people and consequently is somebody not
to be trusted)
Acting aggressively, being blunt or
direct, always in a hurry, and cold in
business dealings.
(People in Hispanic and Asian societies
often perceive that Americans put more
faith in the mechanics and legality of
business dealings that in taking time to get
to know potential business associates well
enough so as to be able to trust them in
business affairs.)
Shaving legs and underarms of females
(Prostitutes are the women who do so in several
European countries.)
Standing and conversing at distances that are
either too close together or too far apart for
comfort
(A person’s personal space does vary with culture.
Americans tend to be most comfortable when a
person is an arm’s distance away [with the fist
closed] when visiting other people. Arabs or
people from the Mediterranean countries prefer to
stand very close to each other when talking.
When an American and an Arab talk together, both
may end up feeling frustrated, uncomfortable, and
sometimes angry with each other, and may not
even understand why that is so.)
Young people not accepting advice of older people.
Older people accepting advice of younger people on
technical matters. Equality of business matters
among people of varying ages, even if some do not
have property or other proof of prosperity.
(People from traditional, non-future oriented, and
sometimes-rigid societies often do have a hard time
accepting such behavior, as it may appear that younger
people in such situations are insolent or disrespectful.
This is often brought about by the phenomenon of
“lateral transfer of knowledge” that is so prevalent in a
modern or future-oriented society, that is the person who
has information passing it along to the person who
needs the information irrespective of the age, position, or
social status of the people involved.)
Speaking to strangers, looking people
directly in the eye when meeting them.
(This is considered rude, forward, and
disrespectful in some cultural settings. The
Navajo Indian shows respect by looking down at
another person’s shoes rather than looking that
person in the eyes as many Americans are
taught to do. Many Americans believe that a
person must have something to hide, is
dishonest, or sneaky if he or she cannot look a
person directly in the eye. Think of the
frustration of the Anglo teacher talking with the
Navajo pupil in Arizona.)
Having an exact concept of time.
(As Americans, we feel uncomfortable if we are
more than two or three minutes late to a
meeting, and make excuses for doing so. We
tend to be critical of people responsible for
meeting if those meetings do not start on time.
In many other cultures, being late for social
affairs is the norm and expected. Even within
the US, we see regional differences. For
example, people in the northeastern part of the
US are more prompt, generally, and less tolerant
of arriving at a meeting late than are people in
the southern part of the country.)
Including children in adult activities
(Letting children be active participants in
conversations when adults from outside
the family are invited to the home is a
practice frowned upon or not practiced in
some cultures. The old saying, “Children
should be seen not heard”.)
German Culture
Being the first to drink Champagne
Is a tradition for celebration in many Europeandescended countries. In Germany, when guest
arrives, champagne is poured. It is not touched
until the host feels the drink has “mellowed”
enough as indicated by the host being the first to
drink. Never would a guest begin a toast in
Germany. Sometimes one would sit for an hour
or more to allow the champagne to mellow
before the toast begins. Of course, Islamic
persons would never even consider drinking
champagne.)
Reading a book or passport
(In Islamic and some Asian cultures, books
are read backward to front, not front to
back as in North America.)
Names – Asian and Hispanic
(Luis Mario Samayoa Paz or Kim Doo Ro)